Flags placed in honor of Memorial Day
TRACY SCOTT Clark Fork Valley Press | Valley Press-Mineral Independent | UPDATED 1 year, 7 months AGO
Joe Wittig, Bill Beck and Dan Johnson place flags on veteran graves. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Bill Beck pays his respects to a fellow veteran. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
The headstone for Navy and Air Force veteran Amos Wilks. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
A rock is placed in loving memory. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Flags are placed in honor of Memorial Day. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
In a long-standing tradition, members of the Plains VFW post 3596 last week honored each veteran’s grave with a symbol of sacrifice and freedom — the American flag.
On a beautiful Tuesday morning, volunteers carefully placed flags on each veteran’s grave, honoring each with a salute.
Volunteers Joe Wittig, Bill Beck, Dan Johnson, Post Commander Ron Killbury, Heather Allen and Jim Gillibrand along with several others, were present to help place flags.
Also present to honor each auxiliary veteran, were members of the Military Auxiliary who placed placards and flags beside each headstone. Auxiliary organizations were first formed nationally in 1939 and locally in 1985. Auxiliaries were organized to help assist in performing certain duties within the government.
Deb Davis is the current president for the local chapter. Fifty-two flags were placed by auxiliary volunteers.
The Plains area lost two veterans last year, Dave Tupper and Gary Jenson. A total of 469 veteran flags were placed throughout the cemetery.
